Indian diaspora in Netherlands welcomes PM Modi with excitement, calls visit a moment of pride and global recognition
The Hague, May 16
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's community interaction in The Hague on Saturday as part of his five-nation tour, members of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands expressed strong excitement and pride, describing the visit as a reflection of India's growing global stature.
Large gatherings of members of the Indian community were seen ahead of the event, with attendees highlighting their cultural identity and India's rising influence on the world stage.
"PM Modi has provided global recognition to India. We are very excited to meet him," said a member of the Indian diaspora.
Emphasising cultural pride and connection with India, another member said, "We are very proud to say that we are Indians. We belong to that India which has left a mark on the global landscape."
Calling the Prime Minister a global leader, another attendee added, "Feeling great to meet the world leader. For me, he is the number one in the world for creating peace and harmony."
The enthusiastic reception comes as Prime Minister Modi continues his official engagements in the Netherlands, following his arrival in The Hague on Friday, where he was warmly welcomed by members of the Indian community.
In a video message, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal outlined the Prime Minister's schedule and key engagements during the visit.
"The Prime Minister of India arrived in the Netherlands yesterday. On arrival, he was received very warmly by the large Indian community in this country," Jaiswal said.
He added that PM Modi's day began with a community interaction, followed by high-level engagements with the Dutch leadership.
"Today, he begins his official engagements. First, he will be speaking to the Indian community shortly. Thereafter, he will call on their Majesties, the King and the Queen of the Netherlands," the MEA spokesperson said.
Jaiswal further noted that the Prime Minister will also engage with leading business figures and added that in the evening, PM Modi will hold official talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
Highlighting a key symbolic engagement, Jaiswal said the Prime Minister will also visit a major dyke project, underlining shared cooperation in water management and climate resilience.
"Tomorrow he will be visiting a famous dyke here, and this dyke and this programme symbolise the strong cooperation that India and the Netherlands have in the area of water and water conservation," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a five-nation tour from May 15 to 20, during which he visited the United Arab Emirates as part of the first leg of the visit.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I hope the PM also uses these visits to address real concerns of the diaspora - visa delays, OCI card issues, and property disputes back home. It's great to have photo ops and cultural events, but practical problems need solutions too. Still, yes, it's nice to see India getting this recognition.
The energy in those gathering photos is electric! I've been following Modi ji's foreign tours closely - he has this unique ability to connect with Indians everywhere. The way he talks about India's heritage and future gives us goosebumps. That line from one attendee about "the India which has left a mark on the global landscape" - so true! No more looking at the world from the backbench. 🔥
As someone who lived in Europe for 10 years, I can tell you - 10 years ago no one knew who the Indian PM was. Now the world talks about Modi ji's vision. The water management cooperation with Netherlands is exactly the kind of practical partnership India needs. We have so much to learn from them about managing floods and droughts. Good to see substance behind the celebrations.
My cousin is in The Hague and sent me videos from the event - the atmosphere is amazing! People holding tricolour, chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai. This is what soft power looks like. Whether you support the government or not, you cannot deny that Modi ji's international outreach has given the diaspora a sense of pride we never had before. And visiting the dyke for water cooperation - brilliant!
K Kavya N < We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.